Multiple liquid active substance dispenser for W.C. bowl

ABSTRACT

The dispenser comprises at least two bottles ( 11 ) having separate internal chambers, each for containing an active substance (R) in the liquid state and having an exit mouth ( 12 ) for the active substance (R), and a support means ( 20 ) for supporting said bottles ( 11 ) in an inverted position, with their mouth ( 12 ) facing downwards, in a position subjected to the action of the flushing water flow, said bottles ( 11 ) being separate from the support means ( 20 ). the support means ( 20 ) comprises, for containing the active substance, at least two reservoirs ( 21 ) located in a position subjected to the action of the flushing water flow and arranged to receive the mouth ( 12 ) of the bottle, and a like number of closure members ( 30 ), each positioned in said containing reservoir ( 21 ) to each close the mouth ( 12 ) of the respective bottle ( 11 ); there is also provided for the active substance at least one passage means ( 35, 36 ) associated with each closure member ( 30 ) to enable the active substance to pass from the internal chamber of the bottle ( 11 ) to the containing reservoir ( 21 ). Each containing reservoir ( 21 ) has a side wall ( 21   b ) defining a volume for containing a quantity of active substance which closes said passage means ( 35, 36 ) for the active substance, the side walls ( 21   b ) of the reservoirs being joined together by a common corridor ( 29 ) which connects them together.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multiple liquid substance dispenserfor a W.C. bowl, to be housed within the W.C. bowl itself.

Liquid active substance dispensers to be housed within the W.C. bowl areknown, comprising a bottle for containing active substance in the liquidstate, and having an exit mouth for the active substance and a supportmeans for supporting said bottle in an inverted position with its mouthfacing downwards, in a position subjected to the action of the flushingwater flow.

BACKGROUND ART

A dispenser which has given excellent results is that of the presentApplicant described and protected in international patent applicationPCT/EP 02/11765. This dispenser has a support means comprising, forcontaining the active substance, a reservoir located in a positionsubjected to the action of the flushing water flow and arranged toreceive the mouth of the bottle and, foreclosing the mouth of thebottle, a closure member positioned in said containing reservoir andwith which there is associated at least one passage means for the activesubstance to enable the active substance to pass from the internalchamber of the bottle to the containing reservoir; said containingreservoir defines a volume for containing a quantity of active substancewhich closes said passage means for the active substance. The containingreservoir has an upwardly facing concavity arranged to contain adetermined level of liquid, and to contain the bottle exit mouth withits lower passage cross-section positioned below the maximum level ofthe liquid present in the reservoir.

For each flush, the flushing water penetrates into the containingreservoir and carries away a small quantity of the active substancecontained in the reservoir, to dilute it and release itsdeodorant/cleansing/refreshing/disinfectant action. When a part of theactive substance is carried away, this, probably together with theturbulence produced by the flush, causes a little ventilation air toenter the bottle, to cause a gauged descent of the active substance,corresponding to one measure, with consequent restoration of the levelin the reservoir.

This type of dispenser has been shown to have a relatively long life,with a behaviour which is constant both with time and for differentshapes of the W.C. reservoir; moreover the active substance contained inthe bottle maintains its active characteristics(deodorant/cleansing/refreshing/disinfectant and the like) constant ornearly constant with time, for a relatively large number of flushes (upto 250–450 flushes with 50–55 ml of active substance), and does not mixwith the water other than to a relatively small extent and only at theend of its life.

Dispensers are also known having a single support for supporting twobottles in an inverted position, with their mouth facing downwards in aposition subjected to the action of the flushing water flow, thesebottles being separate from the support means and having separateinternal chambers, each or containing an active substance in the liquidstate. Examples of these dispensers are illustrated in the documentsWO-A-02/40792 and WO-A-02/40787. An advantage of these dispensers isthat substances which cannot be combined with each other can be used atthe same time, as is the case if in addition to a purifying andperfuming substance, a substance for preventing lime scale formationand/or a bleaching solution are also to be used, these latter beingoften non-combinable with the former.

It has been found that if the dispenser of patent application PCT/EP02/11765 is modified to comprise two (or more) mutually independentbottles and a like number of containing reservoirs for the activesubstance, located in positions subject to the action of the flushingwater flow to receive the mouth of a respective bottle, the dispenserwhen in use manifests a considerable and virtually unacceptabledifference in its behaviour and in particular in the consumption of thetwo liquids, so that one empties before the other.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser which whenin use is able to maintain the advantageous behaviour of the dispenserof patent application PCT/EP 02/11765, while also possessing at leasttwo mutually independent bottles which present a substantially equalbehaviour one to the other and in particular which empty substantiallyat the same time.

This and other objects are attained by the invention as characterised inthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in detail hereinafter with the aid of theaccompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment thereof by way ofnon-exclusive example.

FIG. 1 is a section through the entire dispenser, taken on the plane I—Iof FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a plan view from above showing just the support means of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a section through the entire dispenser taken on the planeIII—III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged detail of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a section on the plane IV—IV of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the lower part of the dispenser.

FIG. 6 is a section such as that of FIG. 1, through a second embodiment.

With reference to the figures, the dispenser of the invention (indicatedoverall by 10) comprises two bottles 11 having separate internalchambers, each arranged to contain a respective active substance R inthe (more or less viscous) liquid state, for example a deodorantsubstance and another substance for cleaning/disinfecting; each bottlehas an exit mouth 12 for the active substance R.

The dispenser 10 also comprises a support means 20, having a usualhooking means 28, in the form of a hook-shaped elongate element ofelastically flexible material, by which it is hooked to the upper rim 8of a W.C. bowl 7; the support means 20 is able to support said bottles11 in an inverted position with their axis substantially or nearlyvertical, and their mouth 12 facing downwards, in a position subjectedto the action of the flushing water flow.

Both bottles 11 are separate from the support means 20 and areassociated with it in order to be located in the W.C. bowl.

The entire dispenser 10, including the bottles 11, is to be housedwithin the W.C. bowl 7 against its inner surface 71, below its upper rim8, under the action of the flushing water flow. Usually, the flushingwater emerges either along the rim 8 from holes provided in its lowerpart or, in other cases, is made to emerge from a rear central mouth ofthe bowl and made to flow in a tangential direction along the innersurface 71, below the rim 8. The support means 20 comprises, forcontaining the active substance, two reservoirs 21 with an upwardlyfacing concavity located in a position subjected to the action of theflushing water flow and arranged to receive the mouth 12 of the bottle,and further comprises other members 30 positioned in said containingreservoirs 21 to close the mouth of the respective bottle 11.

Each containing reservoir 21 comprises a lower wall 25 having a closedsurface 21 a, and a side wall 21 b disposed about the mouth 12 of thebottle to define a volume for containing a quantity of substance.

Preferably, as shown in the figures, each closure member 30 is in theform of an upwardly facing, substantially cylindrical or slightlyfrusto-conical tube piece coaxial with the bottle 11, the exit mouth 12of the bottle being in geometrical relationship with the tube piece 30such that its inner surface sealedly embraces the lateral surface of thetube piece 3. The lower end of the tube piece 30 is joined to thecollection surface 21 a of the containing reservoir 21 and is closedthereby, whereas the upper end 30′ projects upwards beyond the exitmouth 12 of the respective bottle when this is associated with thesupport means 20. Alternatively the upper end of the tube piece 30 canbe closed.

With each closure member 30 there is associated at least one passagemeans 35 enabling the active substance R to pass from the internalchamber of the bottle 11 to the containing reservoir 21, the quantity ofactive substance collected by this latter being such as to close saidpassage means 35.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, said active substance passagemeans 35 is defined by a gauged vertical corridor formed by an archedrecess provided in the cross-section of the lateral surface of the tubepiece 30, which starts from a point within the internal chamber of thebottle 11 and terminates below the exit mouth 12; in particular, saidpassage means 35 extends for the entire height of the tube 30 piece.

Preferably, each bottle 11 is provide with at least one ventilationpassage means 32 which, when in use, connects the internal chamber ofthe bottle 11 to atmospheric air.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the ventilation passage means 31is defined by a gauged vertical corridor formed by an arched recessprovided in the cross-section of the lateral surface of the tube piece30, which starts from a point below the bottle exit mouth 12 andterminates inside the chamber of the bottle 11; in particular, saidpassage means 35 extends for the entire height of the tube 30 piece.

In addition, the passage means 31 is located in a geometrical positionrelatively far from the active substance passage means 35, in particularin a diametrically opposite, position (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

Each reservoir 21 is arranged to contain a determined maximum level ofliquid (indicated by L1 in FIG. 3A), and to contain the exit mouth 12 ofthe bottle 11 with its lower end passage cross-section (indicated by P1)positioned below the maximum liquid level L1.

According to an important characteristic of the invention, the sidewalls 21 b of the reservoirs are joined together by a common corridor29, which connects them together. In particular, the corridor 29 isdisposed on the axis which joins the centres of the two reservoirs 21together and is bounded by two side walls 29 b having the same height asthe walls 21 b; it has a width much smaller than the plan diameter ofthe reservoirs 21, for example from ⅕ to ⅙ thereof (in practice 2–5 mm).

In the illustrated embodiment, each reservoir 21 is defined by thesubstantially flat, horizontal collection surface, 21 a and by thesubstantially vertical, cylindrical side wall 21 b, which extends aboutthe exit mouth 12 through an incomplete round angle, which meets thecorridor 29.

The inner diameter of the side wall 21 b is greater than the maximumouter diameter of the exit mouth 12, so that this can be containedwithin the side wall 21 b a short distance therefrom.

The upper end edge of the side wall 21 b determines the maximum level L1of liquid which collects within the reservoir 21.

The side wall 21 b possesses some upwardly projecting wall extensions 22of crenellation form, which define a resting means for the body 13 ofthe bottle 11 in order to position the bottle mouth 12 in apredetermined and precise geometrical relationship with the reservoir21. The bottle 11 possesses a shoulder 13′, from which there projects acylindrical neck 14 carrying the mouth 12 at its end. The crenellationformed by said extensions 22 b surrounds the mouth 12 and neck 14 of thebottle 11 when in an inverted position, to supportingly receive theshoulder 13′ with its upper end edge; when in this position the mouth 12is inserted into the reservoir 21, with its lower exit section P1 lyingat a level lower than the maximum level L1 (FIG. 3A).

In detail, the mouth 12 shown in the figures comprises an annularelement 12 a rigidly embracing the end of the neck 14, to which there isjoined a circular disc 12 b for hermetically closing the passage portfor the active substance R.

The lower end surface of the element 12 a defines the lower end passagesection P1. This section P1 lies a small distance from the upper edge ofthe lateral wall 21 b of the reservoir 21, so that a narrow passageway(indicated by F) remains defined for the flushing water towards theconcavity of the reservoir 21.

Specifically, the tube piece 30 is cut in an inclined manner to form anupper point 30′ which projects upwards by an extent such as to penetratethrough the mouth 12 of the bottle when placed in its position of use.To dispose the bottles 11 in their position of use, they are insertedand pushed manually downwards to cause the respective tube piece 30 topenetrate into each of them so that its point detaches or tears thecircular disc 12 b from the annular element, to enable the activesubstance R present in the bottle 11 to descend through the exit mouth12. The support means 20 together with the thus attached bottle 11 isthen placed in the W.C. bowl such that the collection surface 21 a liessubstantially horizontal or nearly so, and the flushing water fed intothe W.C. bowl strikes the region in which the reservoir 21 lies.

The liquid substance R of each bottle 11 descends through the (open)mouth 12 and fills the internal closed space of the tube piece 30; thissubstance leaves outwards only through the passage means 35, from whichit descends into the respective reservoir 21 where it accumulates untilit reaches or nearly reaches (but without exceeding it) the maximumlevel L1, at least in the region surrounding the lower mouth of thepassage means 35, and also spills out into the corridor 29 to join thesubstance originating from the other bottle 11.

Using an active substance R having a viscosity of 1000–3000×10⁻² P(poise), it has been found that if a sufficiently small ventilationpassage means 31 is provided, the active substance R does not emergefrom the ventilation passage means 31.

At this point, as the mouth 12 is hermetically sealed, a vacuumenvironment forms in the upper part D of the internal chamber of thebottle 11 above the level of the active substance R, which incombination with the external atmospheric pressure and the weight of thesubstance contained in the bottle, reaches static equilibrium, withoutthe substance R emerging from the bottle 11.

When a flush is activated, the flushing water penetrates into thereservoirs 21 through the gaps F and into the corridor 29, to carry awaya small quantity of the substance R of each reservoir 21, to dilute itand release the deodorant/cleansing/refreshing/disinfectant action ofthe substances. It has been observed experimentally that when a part ofthe active substance is carried away, this, probably together with theturbulence produced by the flush, causes a little ventilation air toenter the bottle 11 through the passage means 31 and reach the upperpart D. This changes the equilibrium between the pressure in the bottleinterior and the external pressure in the reservoir 21, to cause agauged descent of the level L2, corresponding to one measure of activesubstance R, with consequent restoration of the level L1 in thereservoir 21.

For this to happen, the geometrical characteristics of the ventilationpassage means 31 are in relation to the physical-chemicalcharacteristics of the active substance R (in particular to itsviscosity) in order to achieve a gauged passage of air into the bottle11, such that the active substance normally does not emerge from thebottle 11, at least to a relevant extent, whereas it leaves in a gaugedmanner from the bottle 11 when the flushing water flow strikes thecontaining reservoir 21.

Excellent results are obtained with a dispenser in which thecross-section of the ventilation passage means 31 has an area of 3–6 mm²when the active substance has a viscosity of 1600–2400×10⁻² P (poise).

Moreover, preferably, the distance of the lower section P1 from thecollection surface 21 a is relatively small, equal to a few millimetres,the distance between the maximum level L1 of the reservoir 21 and thelower section P1 of the mouth 12 being even less. It has been observedthat these characteristics can also influence regular ventilation of thebottle 11 through the passage means 31.

Tests carried out with a dispenser without the common corridor 29, i.e.with the reservoirs 21 isolated from each other, showed a consumptiondifference for the two bottles 11, whereas with the dispenser of theinvention, because of the presence of the common corridor 29, there issubstantially equal consumption for the two bottles 11, which empty moreor less simultaneously.

A possible explanation of this favourable result is that inevitably theflushing water strikes the two reservoirs 21 differently (for examplebecause one is positioned in front of the other and hence it partlyprotects it from the flow), and hence without the corridor 29 it wouldremove different quantities of active substance from them; instead, thepresence of the corridor acts as a balancing element (even if it is notcompletely clear how this happens).

To facilitate the washing-away and removal of the active substance R bythe water flow, the support means 20 comprises a horizontal platform 23which surrounds the collection surfaces 21 a of the reservoirs 21 and issurrounded in its turn by a vertical wall 24 which defines a relativelywide basin, provided with numerous wide apertures 24′ for passage of thewater, which surrounds the containing reservoir 21 and the lower portionof the inverted bottle 11.

It has been observed that under certain circumstances a problem canarise, namely that at each flush of water, a little water remains insidethe reservoir 21, and that as the number of flushes increases, theactive substance R contained in the bottle 11 becomes increasinglydiluted as the level L2 in the bottle falls, until its percentage isexcessively low compared with the water. This drawback is obviouslyunacceptable as the positive action of the active substance graduallyfalls in intensity as the number of water flushes increases.

This problem is avoided by providing, in the containing reservoir 21, atleast one drainage aperture 41 of gauged passage size such as to enablewater to pass while preventing passage of the active substance.

Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, a drainage aperture 41 inthe form of a vertical slot is provided in the side wall 21 b of thecontaining reservoir 21, preferably along its entire height, and havinga width of 0.5–2.5 mm in the case of an active substance R of viscosity1600–2400×10⁻² P (poise). Preferably the slot 41 is positioned ageometrically significant distance from the passage means 35 for theactive substance, in particular close to the ventilation passage means31.

In this case, it has been observed that after the flushing water has atleast partly struck and washed away the contents of the reservoir 21, itdrains through the slot 42 together with the more diluted activesubstance part, leaving inside the reservoir 21 only the more viscousactive substance part.

Alternatively, one or more drainage apertures, for example in the formof through holes, can be provided in the collection surface 21 a of thecontaining reservoir 21.

In certain cases, especially with an active substance having arelatively high viscosity and with a water drainage aperture located ina position relatively distant from the passage means 35 for the activesubstance, it has been observed that the active substance contained inthe reservoir 21 falls in level starting from the maximum level pointL1, located in correspondence with the passage means 35, until itbecomes practically zero in correspondence with the aperture 41, withthe result that the substance does not emerge from the aperture 41 evenif this has a substantial width.

According to a different embodiment (illustrated in FIG. 6,) theventilation passage means comprises a thin tubular ventilation conduit32 positioned within the tube piece 30 to communicate with the air belowthe lower wall 25 of the containing reservoir 21 and projecting upwardstowards and through the mouth 12 of the bottle 11. The tubular conduit32 is fixed to the lower wall 25 to rise vertically from it, in aposition in the interior of the tube piece 30, and presents at its topan upper end passage opening 32′ for the air. With this type ofdispenser excellent behaviour has been observed even if the waterdrainage aperture 41 is lacking. The geometrical characteristics of theventilation passage means 31, in relation to the viscosity of the activesubstance R, are determined such that:

-   -   the quantity of ventilation air entering the bottle 11 is        sufficient, after each flush (or after a small number of        flushes), to cause the upper level L2, by virtue of the pressure        increase produced inside the bottle, to descend by an amount        corresponding to the measure of substance R released into the        water flow,    -   while at the same time a vacuum level remains inside the bottle        which is able to prevent the substance R from overflowing out of        the reservoir 21.

Preferably, in the ventilation conduit 31, the lower end passage opening32″ of the conduit 32 is larger than the upper end passage opening 32′.

Excellent results have been obtained with dispensers in which:

-   -   the lower end opening 32″ has a diameter between 3.5 mm and 5        mm,    -   the upper end opening 32′ has a diameter between 0.3 mm and 1.5        mm,    -   said conduit 32 projects upwards for a length of 5–15 mm,    -   the active substance has a viscosity between 1600–2400×10⁻² P        (poise).

It has been experimentally observed that after each water flush (orafter a small number of flushes), a small number of air bubblespenetrate from the outside to the inside of the bottle 11 through theventilation conduit 32, to influence its pressure and give rise, duringoperation, to regular emission of the active substance R at each waterflush, with the active substance R contained inside the bottle 11maintaining its active characteristics(deodorant/cleansing/refreshing/disinfectant and the like) substantiallyconstant or nearly constant with time for a relatively large number offlushes (up to 250–450 flushes with 50–55 ml of active substance), andnot mixing with the water other than to a relatively small extent at theend of its life.

As an alternative to the tubular conduit 32, said ventilation passagemeans can consist of a through aperture, in the form of a hole, providedin the lower wall 25 of the containing reservoir 21 in a position facingthe bottle mouth (not shown in the figures). Excellent results have beenobtained where said through aperture has a diameter between 1 mm and 2mm for an active substance viscosity of 1600–2400×10⁻² P poise).

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the passageway for theactive substance from the bottle 11 to the reservoir 21 is defined by avertical through slot passing through the entire thickness of the wallof the tube piece 30 and starting from a point in the interior of thechamber of the bottle 11 to terminate below the exit mouth 12, thisenabling the active substance R to flow to the outside from the interiorof the tube piece 30. In particular, this slot can extend along theentire height of the side wall of the tube piece 30.

A draining passage means could also be dispensed with. In this case theaforestated problem of excessive dilution of the active substance issolved by providing the reservoir 21 with at least one dischargeaperture, in the form of a through hole positioned in the lower wall 25outside the tube piece 3, the passage opening of which is sized on thebasis of the viscosity of the active substance R, to enable water topass but to prevent passage of the active substance R. As an alternativeto these discharge holes, or in combination therewith, said verticalslot 41 can be provided in the side wall 21 b of the reservoir.

By virtue of the presence of these drainage holes/slot, the flushingwater which tends to collect in the reservoir 21 is effectively drainedoff, so preventing or at least delaying the dilution of the activesubstance with time.

Numerous modifications of a practical-applicational nature can be madeto the invention, for example the two bottles 11 can be joined togetherto form a single body, comprising however two separate compartments fortwo separate liquids.

1. A multiple liquid active substance dispenser for a W.C. bowl, to behoused within the W.C. bowl, comprising at least two bottles (11) havingseparate internal chambers, each for containing an active substance (R)in the liquid state and having an exit mouth (12) for the activesubstance (R), and a support means (20) for supporting said bottles (11)in an inverted position, with their mouth (12) facing downwards, in aposition subjected to the action of the flushing water flow, saidbottles (11) being separate from the support means (20), characterisedin that the support means (20 comprises: for containing the activesubstance at least two reservoirs (21) located in a position subjectedto the action of the flushing water flow and arranged to receive themouth (12) of the bottle, a like number of closure members (30), eachpositioned in said containing reservoir (21) to each close the mouth(12) of the respective bottle (11); for the active substance at leastone passage means (35, 36) associated with each closure member (30) toenable the active substance to pass from the internal chamber of thebottle (11) to the containing reservoir (21), each containing reservoir(21) having a side wall (21 b) defining a volume for containing aquantity of active substance which closes said passage means (35, 36)for the active substance, the side walls (21 b) of the reservoirs beingjoined together by a common corridor (29) which connects them together.2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said commoncorridor (29) is bounded by two side walls (29 b) having the same heightas the walls (21 b), and has a width much smaller than the plan diameterof the reservoirs (21).
 3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1,characterised in that said containing reservoirs (21) have an upwardlyfacing concavity located in the zone subjected to the water flow, tocontain a determined level of liquid, and to contain the exit mouth (12)of the respective bottle with its lower passage cross-section (P1)positioned below the maximum level (L1) of the liquid present in thereservoir (21).
 4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterised bycomprising, for each bottle, at least one ventilation passage means (31and 32) which, when in use, connects the internal chamber of the bottle(11) to the atmospheric air.
 5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1,characterised in that the geometrical characteristics of the ventilationpassage means (31, 32) are in relation to the physical-chemicalcharacteristics of the active substance so as to achieve a gaugedpassage of air into the interior of the bottle (11) such that the activesubstance does not normally leave the bottle (11), at least not to arelevant extent, whereas it leaves the bottle (11) to a gauged extentwhen the flushing flow strikes the containing reservoir (21).
 6. Adispenser as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said closuremember (30) is in the form of an upwardly facing tube piece closedlowerly, and having an upper end which projects upwards beyond the exitmouth (12) of the bottle associated with the support means (20), theexit mouth (12) being in such geometrical relationship with said member(30) as to sealedly embraces its lateral surface.
 7. A dispenser asclaimed in claim 1, characterised in that said containing reservoir (21)comprises at least one drainage aperture (41) having a passage openingsized such as to enable water to pass but to prevent passage of theactive substance.